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Formulation Chemistry

Overview

Did you ever think about all the different components that go into a product? For example, that aspirin tablet you take when you have a headache contains not only aspirin, but colorants, flavors, binders, and many other ingredients that do not react with each other but serve important roles in the final product. Some of them are included to increase safety or efficacy of the drug, and others aid in the manufacturing process. The science, and art, of determining the proper combination of ingredients, while balancing product quality, stability, cost, and many other factors is an intriguing puzzle that fascinates chemists.

Typical Job Duties

Design multivariate studies of different formulations of a particular product, minimizing the number of replicates while maximizing the amount of information obtained

Education

An undergraduate degree in chemistry is a good way to prepare yourself for a career in this field. There are a few formal formulation degree programs, but the majority of formulation scientists learn by starting out as a laboratory chemist, and learning formulation science from a seasoned professional. The apprenticeship lasts 4 or so years. The excipients (inactive ingredients) used are very different in different fields, so most people will specialize in a particular class of compounds or industry, and moving between them is exceptionally rare.

Workspace

Formulation scientists work in a wide variety of industries. They may divide their time testing new formulations in the lab, writing reports, and helping to set up new production facilities in a pilot plant. The amount of time spent in each area depends on the product’s development stage. Depending on the company and industry, you may either stay with a single product from inception through commercial production or specialize in one phase and then hand off the product partway through its development.

Written and oral communication skills, including the ability to communicate clearly with other chemists and scientists, as well as nonscientists.

Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, and manage multiple, changing priorities simultaneously

Career Path

Formulation science is a hands-on career. Most people start out working at the bench, and remain close to it throughout their career. Advancement comes in the form of larger and more complex projects, more responsibility, and eventually training new formulation scientists. Most opportunities are in large manufacturing companies, but there are a few contract research firms.

Professional Organizations

Future Employment Trends

Formulation science is a career that is needed but which few people are aware of. A few degree programs are starting to appear, so entry into the field may become more formalized over time. The number of positions in any given industry is small, making the competition fierce.

Is This Career a Good Fit for You?

If you like to solve complex puzzles, and regularly find creative solutions to unusual challenges, this may be the career for you. Formulation is as much an art as a science, and takes a long time to master. You must have patience, as it can take years to achieve just the right combination of ingredients for a particular application, or it may turn out to be impossible; however, the reward of seeing a product you helped develop on store shelves provides a significant source of satisfaction.

Chemists in the Field

Opportunities

Formulation chemists are needed not only in the innovator and generic pharmaceutical industries products, but also for all sorts of chemical products including pesticides and insecticides, paints and coatings, foods, adhesives, cosmetics, fragrances, and many household products.

Education

Either a bachelor's degree or a Ph.D. is acceptable for getting started in this field; the majority of training is obtained on the job by learning from a senior formulation chemist.

Salaries

Current salary data for this sub-specialty is not currently available.